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Road trip by Lexus LBX

The Lexus LBX is probably not an unfamiliar car to you, as it has passed by on this website and on our Youtube channel before. We have been able to get to know this LBX extensively before. Now we have taken the Lexus LBX for a fun road trip, with ‘LBX’ as our theme. Officially, LBX stands for Lexus Breakthrough Crossover. But we like to give it a different interpretation: Liege, Bruges and destination X. In other words: destination unknown. What that last destination will be is still a surprise. We are ambitious: we will do it all in one day! Liege is the starting point of this road trip.

This cool road trip costs less than €80 – AutoRAI TV

Liege, a fiery city

Liège is about 2.5 hours from Utrecht. Many Dutch people pass the city during their car vacation towards the Alps or Mediterranean Sea, without actually stopping there. A shame, because Liege – located on the Meuse River – is a city with character. Lively, cultural, historical and above all burgundian. Leave that to those Belgians. The city’s nickname is La Cité Ardente. That literally means “the fiery city. Liège was given this poetic nickname because of historical, social and cultural factors that underscore the fiery nature of the city and its inhabitants. Over the centuries, Liège has earned a reputation as a rebellious and proud city that regularly resisted those in power. In the 19th century, Liège grew to become one of the most important industrial centers in Europe, especially in steel production, coal mining and gunsmithing. The glowing blast furnaces, flames from smelters and hardworking workers gave the city a fiery aura, literally and figuratively.

Rebellious car, that Lexus LBX

Hatch, then, is a bit rebellious. That secretly also applies to this Lexus LBX. Because this B-segment crossover is different from other models in this segment. With this LBX, Lexus sails its own course and gives its own interpretation of the concept B-segment SUV. A concept that many people are excited about. Because still compact and still that high seating. This LBX always comes with a hybrid powertrain. Alternatives with such a powertrain in this segment are rare.  

Powertrain Lexus LBX

The Lexus LBX uses a 1.5-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine, which always works in conjunction with an electric motor. Basically, it is the same engine as in the Yaris Cross, but changes have been made specifically for Lexus to make it more powerful and even smoother. For example, Lexus applies a balancer shaft, so that less vibration is felt when the gasoline engine kicks on, and the LBX has a bi-polar nickel metal hydride battery that can deliver its power faster. At 136 hp, the LBX seems only 6 hp more powerful than the strongest Yaris Cross, yet the LBX is 1.5 seconds faster in the sprint to 100 kilometers per hour. Maximum torque comes out to 185 Nm. The car is allowed to tow 750 kilograms braked, even if you choose the all-wheel drive version.

How economical is the Lexus LBX?

A typical feature of a hybrid powertrain, of course, is lower fuel consumption. What exactly is the Lexus LBX like? By now we have quite a few kilometers behind us after leaving Liège. We are driving at about 105 km/h on the highway and fuel consumption averages 1 in 20. The fuel tank has a capacity of 36 liters. In theory, that should get you more than 700 kilometers. And that comes in handy on a road trip. The second destination is now also more in sight. After the L comes the B. And that ‘B’ stands for Bruges.

Why hybrid is very relevant

Before we arrive in Bruges, a fun fact. Did you know that about 80 percent of buyers in the B-segment choose a model with a gasoline engine? Not everyone is ready for electric driving yet. With the LBX you choose a fine intermediate solution that also proves to be particularly economical in practice. To further reduce fuel consumption, Lexus also uses lightweight materials. The hood, for example, is made of aluminum. The wheel arches and lower door panels are fabricated from cast resin. Saves weight and is durable.

A well-kept secret

To date, the LBX is proving to be a very fine companion. Especially the luxury stands out in this car, as does the finish. Soft materials, fine stitching, nice upholstery, it looks like a premium car from two segments up. The suspension, too, is genuinely top-notch. There is a wonderful balance in the suspension and steering in the LBX is a joy. In that respect, the LBX is one of the best-kept secrets in the B-segment. And speaking of which:

Bruges, so beautiful

Bruges is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the historic center is bursting with Gothic facades, winding alleys and cobblestone streets. The Market Square, with its imposing 83-meter-high Belfry, is the beating heart of the city. Bruges is also called the “Venice of the North” because of its many canals, or “reien. You can explore the city from the water with a boat tour, which offers a very different view of the centuries-old facades and bridges (hence the name Bruges). With dozens of chocolatiers, Bruges is a paradise for lovers of Belgian chocolate. Handy to know: the center of Bruges is car-free. It is best to explore as much as possible on foot. On almost every street corner there is something beautiful to discover.  

Destination X

We can tick off Bruges, a wonderful destination for a road trip. But we have to move on. Time to travel to our last destination of this road trip. Destination X. In other words: destination unknown. You obviously don’t know yet where we are driving to. A little hint: our final destination is only a 20-minute drive from Bruges.

Our final destination

Drum roll: we arrive in Knokke-Heist. Knokke for short. Knokke is also called the Monaco of Belgium. Knokke is a place where luxury and fat cars are the order of the day. This Lexus LBX feels completely at home here, but thanks to the LBX, the normal man can also enjoy top-level luxury, but without paying the top price. In short: the LBX makes Lexus luxury accessible. So as far as we are concerned, the city of Knokke has a nice interface with this compact crossover from Lexus.

Knokke is also beautiful because of its nature

The Belgian coastal town of Knokke is known as one of Belgium’s most fashionable seaside resorts. Located right on the North Sea, it boasts a vast and well-kept coastline. But what sets it apart from other seaside resorts is its close proximity to the Het Zwin nature reserve. This cross-border nature reserve between Belgium and the Netherlands is a paradise for bird watchers, hikers and nature lovers. Knokke is also known for the Zoute Grand Prix: a classic car event for old-timers. You can also indulge as a car enthusiast, as here a Bentley and Porsche 911 is the Volkswagen Golf.

LBX road trip

That was a long, but super cool day. We started early in Liege, then drove to Bruges and ended in Knokke as destination X. Our LBX road trip by Lexus LBX was thus successfully completed. We have driven over 500 kilometers. Now only the last stage towards home. We like to do that via the Loodijk, a beautiful piece of asphalt where you can steer wonderfully. The most convenient way is to drive via the Lippenslaan and Kustlaan towards the traffic circle where you will also find a Q8 gas station. From there the navigation will send you via Bronlaan, Hazegrasstraat, Knokkeweg and Kanaalweg towards the Oude Zeedijk and then the Loodijk. That’s a nice route to drive back along and is much less crowded. Try to avoid the Graaf Jansdijk (clinker road). Bottom line, we look back on this roadtrip with great pleasure. Also because this road trip cost less than 80 euros in gasoline. So you can have a nice day of touring in a budget-friendly way and visit several places.